document.write( "Question 209396: Admiral Al needs a ramp to perform a stunt at the Arlington High School pep rally. For the first 20 feet along the ground, the ramp must rise off of the ground at a constant rate. After the construction crew had finished 5 feet of the horizontal distance, the track is 4 feet off the ground. After 20 feet of horizontal distance is constructed, Admiral Al needs to clear a 12 foot high barrier. Will he be able to do it? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #158314 by Theo(13342)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! does not appear to be a problem. \n" ); document.write( "the ratio of the vertical distance to the horizontal distance is 4/5 \n" ); document.write( "4/5 * 20 = 16 feet. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "he should clear the 12 foot barrier with 4 feet to spare. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "alternate way of proving this is tangent of angle ramp makes with the ground is 4/5 (opposite / adjacent) \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "this makes the angle equal to 38.6599 degrees. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "if the horizontal distance is 20 feet, then the tan(38.699) degrees = o/a = o/20. \n" ); document.write( "this means that o = 20 * tan(38.6599) = 16 feet. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "o means opposite side from the angle which is the vertical height. \n" ); document.write( "a means adjacent side from the angle which is the horizontal distance. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "if you want to name the triangle, let A be where the construction starts, let B be 20 feet of horizontal distance from the starting point, let C be 16 feet of vertical distance directly above point B. the ramp is AC, the horizontal distance is AB, the vertical distance is BC. \n" ); document.write( "the angle is angle BAC, otherwise known as angle A. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "the tangent of the angle will find you the vertical distance all along the way. \n" ); document.write( "given 5 feet of horizontal distance from the starting point of A, the vertical distance is 5 * tan (38.6599) = 4 feet. \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |